Saul Building disaster, Thomas Fealy is pictured in the upper right photo.
Source: The Washington Times, 31 July 1913; Evening Edition
TERRIFIC WIND STORM, WORST IN CAPITAL’S HISTORY, CAUSES DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OF OVER $1,000,000
BUILDING BLOWN DOWN IN STORM; TWO PERSONS KILLED, TWELVE INJURED
Fifty-Year-OId Structure at Seventh and L Streets Northwest Collapses Like House of Cards, Burying Victims Under Debris Walter E. Hilton, Vice President of Real Estate Company, Dies Trying to Save Women Clerks.
MANY DEEDS OF HEROISM MARK DISASTER; PHYSICIAN FROM HOSPITAL RESCUES FOUR
(excerpt)
THE DEAD.
Walter T. Hilton, thirty-five years old, vice-president of the B. F. Saul company.
Thomas Fealy, sixty-five years old.
(excerpt)
Horse Is Killed.
All those caught in the collapse were employees of the B. F. Saul Company, except Mrs. Kaplan and her daughter, who ran into the building to seek shelter from the storm. A horse owned by Timothy J. Casey, of 1103 Seventh Street Northwest, was killed under the falling walls. The horse was attached to a wagon driven by Timothy J. Casey, jr. aged twelve. It was in an effort to call the boy in out of the storm that Mr. Fealy lost his life. He and the boy were about to go into the Saul Building when the first warning sound came from the falling walls. The boy leaped back and ran across the street. Mr. Fealys life was crushed out where he stood.
It was in the very midst of the storm, at 3:15 o’clock, that an unusually strong gust of wind struck the top floor of the building, which stood out above the roof of the adjoining structure, 1103 Seventh Street. The wind dislodged the roof and tumbled in the side wall. The flooring gave way, and the whole mass went with a crash straight through to the basement, carrying all with it. All those in the building were on the first floor.
The upper stories have been vacant for some time formerly being occupied by a Technical High School club. Before that, the German Turnverein had its headquarters in the building. As the crash came the front wall buckled and the debris from the upper stories swept through In a V-shape to the basement, leaving only the rear wall standing. Thomas Fealy was crushed to death under the falling brick from the front wall.
(excerpts)
BUILDING BLOWN DOWN; 2 KILLED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
Ambulances on the Scene.
The firemen, augmented by about fifty laborers, made quick work of the debris. Ambulances from two hospitals and patrol wagons from three precincts were pressed into use to hurry the injured to hospitals. Thomas Fealy was taken from under the piled-up bricks on the pavement dead, but the body was rushed to Homeopathic Hospital as a last hope. Walter E. Hilton next was taken from the wreckage, a spark of life still burning. He was dead before the ambulance reached Casualty Hospital. Mrs. Hilton, who has been seriously ill at her home, 1401 Delafield Place, for several months, when she heard of the accident to her husband, despite all that nurses and relitivts could do to dissuade her, hurried to the hospital in an automobile. She found her husband dead. She Is in state of collapse and may die.
Only half an hour before he lost his life Mr. Hilton had stopped at an F Street florist’s and sent a huge bunch of roses to his wife. “With love, from Walter,” he had written on the card. The roses arrived at the stricken home as the hysterical wife returned
from her trip to the hospital.
Rear Wall Ordered Down.
Even after all the employees of the company. who were known to be In the building at the time, had been accounted for, the firemen and laborers continued their work of excavation, fearing that some persons may have run in out of the storm and been caught in the collapse. When it was definitely determined after 8 o’clock, that such was not the case, Fire Chief Wagner ordered the rear wall, which alone had remained standing, to be torn down, in order to
prevent danger during the night.
The Saul Buildlng was one of the oldest structures in the city. It was about fifty years old, and belonged to the Norman estate. It was three stories high, with a basement, and was constructed of red brick.
Among the first of those not In the immediate neighborhood to reach the scene of the disaster were three Catholic priests. They were Rev. Eugene J. Connelly of the Immaculate Conception Church; Rev. Ignatius Fealy, of St. Joseph’s Church, and Rev. Frank Bishoff, of the Church of the Nativity.
The three clergymen were allowed to pass the lines of the police and fire department, and gave aid in the work of rescue. A pathetic incident was the fact that the young clergyman from St. Joseph’s Church, who had rushed to the scene in an automobile in order to give aid to the injured, found that his own father, Thomas Fealy, of 67 New York Avenue Northwest, was among the killed.
Thomas Fealy was well known in Catholic circles, and for many years had been secretary of the St Vincent de Paul’s Society of St. Aloysius’ Church. It was stated by the rector of St Aloysius’ Church last night that Mr. Fealy was a tireless worker in the cause of charity. His Sunday and evenings were frequently devoted to visiting, and looking after the wants of the poor who were known to his society. He leaves a
wife, a daughter, and a son.
Source: The Washington Herald 31 July 1913; pages 1 and 2
LOSES HIS LIFE IN EFFORT TO SAVE BOY
Body of Thomas J. Fealy, Who Dies in Saul Building, Taken to Residence.
The body of Thomas J. Fealy, who lost his life in protecting a boy from the storm at the Saul Building yesterday afternoon, was taken to the family residence, 87 New York avenue north west, this morning.
Mr. Fealy was in the tin shop of Thomas J. Casey, 1103 Seventh street, northwest, when the Saul building was wrecked. One of the walls of the Saul building crashed through the side of the tin shop the debris falling on him. He died before he could be rescued.
Funeral services will be conducted from St. Aloysius Church Saturday morning at 9 o’clock.
A witness to the tragedy in telling the brother, Patrick Fealy, who is employed by the Washington Gas Light Company, gave a graphic picture of the man’s fate.
“I saw Mr. Fealy standing in a doorway when the Saul building began to fall,” he sad. “He was shouting across the street to two friends who were warning him of the impending danger. Just as he was about to open the door and make a rush for safety, the structure fell throwing the wall through the tin shop and he was burled beneath it.
Source: The Washington Times, 31 July 1913; Evening Edition, page 2
The Dead and Injured In Yesterday’s Storm
THE DEAD.
Walter E. Hilton, thirty-five years old, vice president of the B. F. Saul Company, died in ambulance on way to Casualty Hospital.
Thomas Fealy, sixty-five years old, member of Columbia Typographical Union, and father of the Rev. Ignatius Fealy, crushed to death under falling walls after entering Casey’s tinshdp, adjoining the Saul building.
Henry’ Smiler, colored, killed by falling from ladder which he was climbing to escape from the storm, at South Capitol and R streets.
MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Thomas E. Allen, 1702 Fort Drive road, compound fracture of the leg, internal Injuries, face bruised in Saul accident;
condition serious at Emergency Hospital today.
Ida Capalan, 2017 Ninth street, bruises; taken home, and later removed to Emergency Hospital; condition Is not critical;
hurt at Saul’s.
Sadie Capalan, daughter of Ida Capalan, bruises; at Emergency Hospital; not listed as critical.
Katherine Breen, 435 Sixth street, body crushed; condition improved at Casualty Hospital today.
Neal Hough, contused wounds; discharged from Casualty Hospital this afternoon.
J. C. Rhodes, 637 Reefer place north west, skull injured but probably not fractured; at Bureau of Printing and Engraving; condition shows progress, at Providence Hospital.
Catherine McMahon. 1131 Rhode Island avenue, badly cut and bruised at Saul’s; reported at home today, she probably
has no Internal injuries.
OTHER INJURY CASES.
Albert J. Druey. 606 Florida avenue northwest, bruised and cut.
Thomas E. Cox. 136 North Carolina avenue northeast, contusions.
J. W. Jacobs. Gaithersburg, Md.. head cut.
Joseph Johnson, colored, back badly hurt by falling timber in new house on Belmont street.
E. H. Boblits. 1340 Valley street Anacostia, bruises.
Harold Robinson, address unknown, contusions.
Roy Humphries, 150 S street northeast. Cuts and bruises.
Neal Houck. contusions.
Miss Nellie E. Desmond, bookkeeper in Saul’s, shock.
Angelo Benedette. 908 Eighth street, crushed by overturning of a wagon, slightly hurt
Harry pittle, 1531 North Capitol street, run over by team, not seriously hurt.
David Parker, colored, hurt by falling tree.
Harry T. Green, 1146 W street southeast, cut by flying glass.
Mary Gears, colored, cut by flying glass.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing cases, not listed as serious.
Mary Ballenger, Salina Newman, Mary E. Leslie, Mary Franklyn, Mary McAllister. Anna C. Doyle. Agnes Lawner, Mary Fox. C. Dyhes, Anna Huyler, Miss Buller, George O’Neal, and Ella Smith.
Source: The Washington Times, 31 July 1913; Evening Edition,
page 3
CLEARING AWAY DEBRIS BIG TASK
(exerpt)
Eulogized for Bravery.
Walter E. Hilton, vice president of the B. F. Saul Company, and Thomas J. Fealy, father of the Rev. Ignatius Fealy, died heroes. All Washington was shocked by the tragedy in Seventh Street, in which these two men
lost their lives, but are eulogizing them for bravery in giving their lives in efforts to save others.
The Rev. Ignatius Fealy will celebrate solemn high requiem mass at St. Aloyslus Church tomorrow for his father, Thomas J. Fealy. Funeral services will be held from the residence of Mr. Fealy at 67 New York Avenue Northwest, at 8:30 o’clock tomorrow morning.
Father Fealy. who was at the Saul building shortly after his father was killed, will be assisted at the mass by the Rev. William Brooks, deacon, and the Rev. Leo I. Fealy, a relative, subdeacon.
Pallbearers for Mr. Fealy will be his six sons, Martin S., Thomas F., Joseph A., Aloyslus J., Vincent E., and the Rev. Ignatius Fealy. Mr. Fealy leaves, besides his six sons, a daughter, Miss Margaret Fealy. Burial, it is expected, will be made at Mount
Olivet Cemetery.
Source: The Washington Herald, 1 Aug 1913; page 11 (main article started on page 1)
HILTON AND FEALY RITES TOMORROW
Funerals of Victims of Disaster in Saul Building at Home and Church.
The funerals of Walter E. Hilton and Thomas J. Fealy, the two victims of the Saul building disaster during Wednesday’s storm, will be held tomorrow. The Hilton funeral will be from the residence, 1401 Delafield place, at 4 o’clock. The Fealy funeral services will be at St. Aloysius Church at 9 o’clock.
Former business associates of Mr. Hilton during the years he served as secretary of the Real Estate Title Insurance Company and later as vice president of the B. F. Saul Company, will act as pallbearers at his funeral.
Services will be conducted at the home by the Rev. George F. Dudley, of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Internment will be at Glenwood Cemetery. The funeral has been delayed until 4 o’clock because Spencer Hilton, a brother, will not arrive from Oklahoma until after noon tomorrow.
The Fealy funeral will be from the residence, 67 New York avenue, to St. Aloysius. where a son and nephew will have part in the services. The Rev. Father Ignatius, son of the deceased, will be celebrant of the requiem high mass, and Leo Fealy, a nephew, will be master
of ceremonies.
Thomas Fealy is survived by six sons, besides Father Fealy, who will act as pallbearers. They are Martin, Francis, and Aloysius, of this city; Thomas, of Philadelphia, and Vincent and Francis Fealy, of New York. Mrs. Fealy and a daughter. Miss Margaret, also survive. Charles Columbus, secretary of the Retail Merchants’ Association, is a nephew of the deceased.
Thomas Fealy, the father of the deceased, also met a violent death. He was killed by an explosion during the civil war at the Government arsenal and powder magazine in Washington, where he was employed.
Source: The Washington Times, 1 Aug 1913; Evening Edition, page 2
HIGH TRIBUTE PAID TO THOMAS FEALY
Members of St Vincent De Paul Society Tell of Storm Victim’s Charitable Work.
Declaring that in the death of Thomas Fealy, who was killed in the collapse of the Saul Building Wednesday afternoon, the church had lost a zealous and an ideal layman, officers and members of St. Aloysius branch of the St. Vincent De Paul Society at a meeting held yesterday, paid tribute to the memory of Mr. Fealy, who had been associated with the organization for more than thirty-five years, a great part of which time he had held the office of secretary.
The Rev. James Noonan, spiritual director of the society; President John J. Fuller, and others, spoke of Mr. Fealy’s long and faithful service In the cause of Christian charity. It
was said that Mr. Fealy had frequently devoted his evenings and Sundays to the work of visiting the poor, whose cases had been brought to the society’s attention, and having their wants attended to.
“Mr. Fealy’s whole life was a preparation for death.” said Father Noonan. “It is a pious custom to pray that we may be delivered from a sudden and unprovided death. The death of Mr.
Fealy was indeed a sudden one, but those who knew him are aware that the end had been well provided for. His life reflected credit upon the Church and upon the Society of St. Vincent De Paul.”
Mr. Joseph Ryan, for several years associated with Mr. Fealy In the charitable work of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, was appointed by President Fuller to succeed Mr. Fealy.
Source: The Washington Herald, 4 Aug 1913; page 2
Fealey’s Assistant Will Succeed Him in Office
Joseph Ryan has been appointed secretary of the St. Aloysius branch of the St. Vincent De Paul Society to succeed Thomas Fealy, who was killed in the collapse of the Saul building during the storm last week. Mr. Fealy had been connected with the organization for thirty-five years, and had always been active in the charitable work of the society. In this work Mr Ryan, who succeeds to the office, had assisted him.
Tribute was paid to the memory of Mr. Fealy at a meeting of the society held late yesterday, when the Rev. James Noonan. spiritual director, declared that Mr. Fealy’s life reflected credit upon the church and upon the society.
Source: The Washington Times, 4 Aug 1913; Evening Edition, page 14